Leviticus 22:32 "Neither shall you profane My holy name"

Everything a Jew does, has an effect on the way others look at the Jewish people and the Torah.

The Torah expects a Jew to behave in a proper and fitting manner.

If a person follows the Mitzvot and acts in a just manner, other people will notice him and praise HaShem and His chosen nation (see also Positive Mitzvah 9).

However, if the individual does not act properly, people will see and criticize, not only the person himself, but HaShem and His nation.

This is called a "Chillul HaShem" - a desecration of G‑d's name.

This Negative Mitzvah describes three types of situations where a Jew must be very careful in what he says and how he acts, so that he will not cause a Chillul HaShem.

1) The first type of Chillul HaShem is when the Jewish religion is challenged.

If an evil nation or person proclaims that Jews are no longer allowed to follow the Torah, obeying such a ruling would be considered a Chillul HaShem.

Our history is full of countless stories of Jews who chose to sacrifice their lives rather than deny their faith.

2) The second type of Chillul HaShem is when a Jew's behavior is irresponsible and disrespectful of Torah and Mitzvot, even if he does not benefit from his actions. This is also a Chillul HaShem.

3) The third type of Chillul HaShem involves an individual who is regarded as a religious person and upholds the Torah.

If this person does something that even seems wrong, other people will point at him and say: "Look at that person who calls himself a religious Jew!"

An example of this type of Chillul HaShem would be, Yeshivah students dumping their garbage out of the bus windows... Or a girl siting comfortably on a public bus, ignoring an elderly lady who is standing...

If we act in such a manner that causes other people to disapprove of our actions, because they are not proper or fitting, this too is considered a Chillul HaShem.